Aside from requiring independent living groups to register open
parties and allowing dormitories to serve alcohol without a cash bar, the
new Institute alcohol policy, released last week by the dean's office, is
substantially unchanged from its predecessor.

None of the housemasters, dormitory presidents or Undergraduate
Association officers contacted last night were sure when the new policy
will take effect, or even if it has taken effect already. However, they
said, the policy is almost identical with a draft that has been circulating
among housemasters since late August.

Both the draft and final versions of the policy were written by Associate
Dean for Residence and Campus Activities James R. Tewhey, who was
unavailable for comment yesterday. These drafts were partly based on
reactions by the administration, housemasters and UA Alcohol Policy
Committee to earlier versions.

Although the policy will not require ILGs to register parties with the
InterFraternity Council until the new policy takes effect, IFC President
Holly L. Simpson '92 said the IFC had ratified the new rules on Oct. 2, and
that all parties since Oct. 11 have been registered. Houses which do not
register parties are subject to $25, $50 and $100 fines for the first three
offenses, respectively. The third offense brings with it the potential for
other sanctions, Simpson said.

The system "seems to be working pretty well," she said. But, she added,
it is difficult to judge its success after so short a time.

Cash bars no longer required

The other major change in the alcohol policy allows dormitories to serve
alcohol without a cash bar, reflecting a change in administration thinking.

"The law requires that if you sell alcohol, you have to have a license.
MIT required that all student events do both," said UA Vice President J.
Paul Kirby '92.

Jay M. Goodliffe '92, president of MacGregor House, thought the
change reflected the reality of the situation. "People weren't doing cash
bars just because it was inconvenient and didn't feel like charging people.
As far as practice goes, I don't think there is any real change," he said.

The cash bar policy was meant to limit consumption, UA Vice President J.
Paul Kirby '92 said. "The theory supposedly was that it would deter
consumption, that if you had to go through all this extra hassle then these
naughty children wouldn't have parties," he said.

While satisfied with the new regulations, Baker House Housemaster William
B. Watson said they were rules, rather than a full policy. "A policy on
alcohol use would have to include education, ways in which people would be
made aware of the dangers of alcohol, and adequate training for people who
are going to serve alcohol," he said.